A Captive of Wing and Feather A Retelling of Swan Lake - Melanie Cellier Page 0,86
below while Gabe led the now-brunette Audrey through the crowd.
“It’s hard to tell up here, but it’s noisy down there. Noisy and crowded and dark. And one of the interesting things about having a distinctive physical feature—like your friend’s red hair—is that you become surprisingly hard to recognize without it.”
“Audrey would never agree to help you,” I said, clinging to the hope that this was all part of some plan of hers.
“No,” he said. “I don’t think she would have…which is very interesting. None of my other servants are so defiant. I think I will have to study her, when this is all over. But everyone can be persuaded one way or another.”
“What did you do to her?” I asked, horror in my voice.
“Why, nothing.” He sounded surprised. “Your friend is unharmed—as you can see for yourself.”
I frowned back down, but it was too far to notice any specifics of her features.
“You know, you’re a gift to me, Princess,” he said. “When your kingdom was first cursed, I was a little…distracted.”
I fisted my hands into my skirts, fighting down my repulsion over his casual mention of what he had done to his father.
“I didn’t recognize who you were immediately,” he said. “I didn’t notice you at all, in fact. And then my seeds bore fruit, and I was rather occupied ensuring the entire kingdom got to taste my fearsome harvest.”
He smiled, clearly pleased with his word choice, and my stomach turned.
“By the time I had leisure to look around, it seemed fairly clear you weren’t a threat. And then I received word about the unexpected new arrivals from the Old Kingdoms.” His face twitched.
“You knew of the Old Kingdoms?” I asked. “I thought few even remembered them before the way was reopened. Surely you do not follow the ways of the High King and his godmothers?” The persistent question of my godmother’s intentions wormed its way back into my mind.
“Ha! I should have known you would be one to believe in such fairy stories.” Disgust twisted his features. “You mark my words, there is no High King—just a bunch of women with too much power, using it to shape our world as they see fit. But if we’re careful and cunning, we can take that power and turn it back against them. And then we may shape the world as we see fit.”
“I don’t wish to live in any world of your shaping,” I said.
“How fortunate,” he said calmly, “since in a few hours you will be dead.”
I followed his gaze to where Gabe had nearly made it through the crowd to the stage, Audrey trailing behind him, holding onto one of his hands.
“But don’t worry,” Leander continued. “I won’t leave you alone to die. I’ve become quite fond of you in the two years you’ve been in my keeping.” He shook his head. “It is strange the whims of affection.”
“I was never in your keeping,” I spat, glaring at him. How dare he suggest he had any affection for me?
“Oh, but certainly you were,” he said. “Not at first, of course. The disappearance of Palinar removed our kingdom’s most valuable ally, and I was busy exploiting that weakness. It took time to properly set my plan into motion. But then news came of unexpected happenings at your brother’s Tourney. I have studied broadly, you know—much to my father’s disgust at what he called a waste of my time. I knew that the return of the Old Kingdoms would herald a return of the godmothers as well. And from there it was likely only a matter of time until Palinar returned to full power. Suddenly, I realized how fortuitous it was that I should have you on my doorstep. As long as I could keep you here, I would have a tool at my disposal if ever I should need to…dissuade your brother from involving himself in Talinosian concerns.”
I was only half listening to him talk of his apparent brilliance, my eyes glued to Gabe, waiting for the moment when he realized it wasn’t me holding his hand.
“Of course, the initial enchantment I used to bind you to the lake didn’t work quite as thoroughly as I had hoped,” Leander continued. “Which you no doubt noticed. But I am a meticulous man, and my plans are carefully laid. I had a backup enchantment with me, and I daresay you were still stumbling through the forest when I released it. I had to be sure you were fully ensnared.”